Report Card

Of the four embryos I got in the Great Embryo Draw of 2007, only two fertilized.

As they've only fertilized and further cell division won't happen before this afternoon or this evening, we don't have a quality grade on them for now.

We're set for transfer tomorrow at 1:15, provided that the two survive (and they have a 95% chance of continuing to grow so I'm going to think and hope that they make it.)  We will be transferring both, which is the legal maximum for how many embryos a 32 year-old is allowed to transfer in England, but is also the maximum we'd transfer anyway.  I know "it only takes one", as Aidan has been saying, and it's true, but I've had better cycles than this with poor outcomes, cycles where I had enough embryos to inseminate whole prides of pachyderms.  I just have to hope that my first (and hopefully only) crappy cycle changes the pattern for us, that the outcome is different, and I'm going to try to stay positive today anyway.  It can't hurt, right?

Truthfully, it does save us from some potentially painful choices.  While we hoped that they would all fertilize so that we could have some choices (like testing the ripe apples at the local Sainsbury's and rejecting the one with the slightest bruise), we figured that only 3 out of 4 would fertilize.  We'd put back the best two, and then the third?  Well, we weren't actually planning on freezing the one that we didn't put back-it costs us about £1600 to have a frozen cycle, whereas a fresh cycle is £2500 and has much better odds.  It was a sort-of painful choice (how do you walk away from the possibility of one working?) but we just didn't think it made financial sense to freeze one lone embryo at £1600 as well as pay £2500 for a fresh cycle (because we would go ahead with the fresh cycle and lump the frozens together like one big stereotype party).  I guess just having two means we get out of playing the embryonic version of Sophie's Choice.

Here's to hoping that the two continue to divide and grow and kick some quality ass.

We couldn't be cutting this any closer if we tried.

Comments

[Sarah]

We're with you all the way! Heres hoping your embryos divide and conquer!

[ilyka]

"I'm going to think and hope that they make it."

You will not be alone in that activity.

[Kath]

Dear Vanessa, I am hoping so very hard for your embryos. May they look wonderful tomorrow, and do their thing...

[Nicole]

Still have all my digits crossed for you and I'm sending division thoughts across the pond to you.

[Polichick]

Crossing my fingers and toes those embryos divide and thrive.

[Jen(aside)]

*crosses her fingers, hangs a horseshoe over her door, faces an elephant with its trunk up near the door, grabs a lucky penny, kisses her four leaf clover* Okay. I think I got it covered.

Good luck.

[sophie]

Hang in there. I can't begin to imagine how hard the waiting is. I'm sending lots of dividing juju your way.

[jenny]

This cycle has been hard one for you but so far everything has worked out. I really hope that things continue on that path and you get some good news tomorrow at transfer time.

[jen m]

give me a g
give me a r
give me a o
give me a w

What's that spell altogether....

GROW

Good luck!!!

[thalya]

Keeping my fingers crossed that they both look stupendously good tomorrow.

[statia]

I'm keeping it all crossed for you. Even my 18 hour bra.

[Lut C.]

Where did you get that figure "95% change they will continue to grow"?
That would be welcome news for me too. :-)

Best of luck tomorrow!

[Watson]

Can I just say...

YOU ARE MY IDOL.

Seriously.

With all of this going on you come up with the Chia Pet comment that had me totally cracking up today!!

I hope you keep your sense of humor and that the transfer goes well, I'll be keeping everything crossed for you.

[Carol]

Good luck! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

[Jasmine]

Hiya Hon

Following your blog religiously - you're one of the ones I hoping for as much as myself (and Bea!).

Fingers *and everything else!* crossed for you darl - praying it's the best news for you.

[caltechgirl]

yay for your two little embryos!

[BeachGirl]

If those little embryos are anything like you, they'll be taking those petri dishes by storm.

Good luck, and may 45 minutees of a full bladder be the only unpleasant thing you experience tomorrow!

[Meri-ann]

I hope that there is serious ass kicking happening.... x

[teamwinks]

I'm chanting with Jenny! Pulling for you!

[Jenny (vegas)]

If Jennys are chanting, I'm chanting with the rest of 'em.

[wn]

Kick some ass little ones! World Cup Style.

PS - Hugs to you Vanessa. Positive vibes all around.